Department of Natural Resource officials today announced the Otter Lake boating access site in the Upper Peninsula's Houghton County will be closed for construction beginning July 14. Construction is scheduled to be completed by July 18 and, until repairs are complete, boaters and anglers can access the lake from the Otter Dam boat launch site on the north end of the lake.

The construction upgrade includes dredging the boat launch area and installing a new 18-foot-wide by 70-foot-long concrete ramp and a new five-foot by 30-foot courtesy pier. For more information, please contact Dan Dowdy at (906) 353-6558.

Funds for this project are through the Michigan State Waterways Fund, which is made up of watercraft registration fees and gasoline taxes collected in Michigan. Under state law, these funds can be used only for the construction, operation and maintenance of recreational boating facilities, harbors and inland waterways.